Clamping device

Abstract

Clamping device (1) comprising a first connection body (3) and a second connection body (5), which are mechanically engaged to translate relative to each other on a reference plane (X) between multiple adjustment positions. A first locking mechanism (6) is switchable between a constraint condition, in which the first and second connection bodies (3, 5) are locked in one adjustment position, and a release condition, in which they are free to translate. The device comprises an actuation piston (7), slidably inserted in a guide chamber (8) of the first connection body (3) to move along a direction (Z) transverse to the reference plane (X), between positions that maintain the first locking mechanism (6) in the constraint condition or in the release condition. An elastic member (9) pushes the piston (7) toward one position, while an actuator mechanism (10) moves it toward the other, elastically deforming the elastic member (9).

1 . Clamping device ( 1 ) for holding a semifinished product in position with respect to a support base, which comprises:
 at least one first clamping assembly ( 2 ), which is intended to be removably fixed to one of said support base and said semifinished product and it comprises at least one first connection body ( 3 );   at least one second clamping assembly ( 4 ), which is intended to be removably fixed to the other of said semifinished product and said support base and it comprises at least one second connection body ( 5 ); said first and second connection body ( 3 ,  5 ) being mechanically engaged to mutually translate one with respect to the other with at least one degree of freedom on a first reference plane (X) between a plurality of first adjustment positions;   a first locking mechanism ( 6 ), which is mechanically associated with said first and with said second connection body ( 3 ,  5 ) and it can be switched between a first constraint condition, in which it locks said first and second connection body ( 3 ,  5 ) into one of said first adjustment positions, and a first release condition, in which it frees said first and second connection body ( 3 ,  5 ) to mutually translate one with respect to the other on said reference plane (X);   a first actuation piston ( 7 ), which is slidably inserted into a first guide chamber ( 8 ) obtained on said first connection body ( 3 ) in order to translate along a movement direction (Z) transversal to said reference plane (X) between a first actuation position, in which it maintains said first locking mechanism ( 6 ) in said first constraint condition, and a second actuation position, in which it maintains said first locking mechanism ( 6 ) in said first release condition;   a first elastic member ( 9 ), which is inserted into said first guide chamber ( 8 ) and it is provided to force said first actuation piston ( 7 ) into one of said first actuation position and said second actuation position;   a first actuator member ( 10 ), which is provided to move said first actuation piston ( 7 ) into the other of said first and second actuation position, making said first elastic member ( 9 ) yield elastically.   
     
     
         2 . Clamping device ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein said first actuator member ( 10 ) comprises at least one first conveyance duct ( 11 ) obtained on said first connection body ( 3 ), placed in fluid communication with said first guide chamber ( 8 ) and provided to convey a pressurized fluid against said first actuation piston ( 7 ) in order to make said first elastic member ( 9 ) yield elastically and push said first actuation piston ( 7 ) into the other of said first actuation position and said second actuation position. 
     
     
         3 . Clamping device ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein said first clamping assembly ( 2 ) is provided with a first support surface ( 12 ) intended to be placed against one of said support base and said semifinished product and said second clamping assembly ( 4 ) is provided with a second support surface ( 13 ) intended to be placed against the other of said support base and said semifinished product;
 at least one between said first support surface ( 12 ) and said second support surface ( 13 ) being parallel to said reference plane (X).   
     
     
         4 . Clamping device ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein said first connection body ( 3 ) is provided with a first sliding surface ( 14 ) and said second connection body ( 5 ) is provided with a second sliding surface ( 15 ), and such first and second sliding surface ( 14 ,  15 ) are susceptible of sliding one with respect to the other with said first and second connection body ( 3 ,  5 ) translating on said reference plane (X);
 said first locking mechanism ( 6 ) comprising a first pulling element ( 16 ), which is mechanically associated with said second connection body ( 5 ) and is integrally joined with said first actuation piston ( 7 ) at least in translation along said movement direction (Z) transverse to said reference plane (X), to pull under pressure said second sliding surface ( 15 ) towards said first sliding surface ( 14 ) locking said first and second connection body ( 3 ,  5 ) in one said first adjustment position, with said first actuation piston ( 7 ) in said first actuation position.   
     
     
         5 . Clamping device ( 1 ) according to  claim 4 , wherein said first connection body ( 3 ) is provided with a first communication opening ( 17 ) extending between said first guide chamber ( 8 ) and said first sliding surface ( 14 );
 said first pulling element ( 16 ) being placed to traverse, with play, the first communication opening ( 17 ) of said first connection body ( 3 ).   
     
     
         6 . Clamping device ( 1 ) according to  claim 4 , wherein said second connection body ( 5 ) is provided with a retention surface ( 19 ), which is faced in the opposite direction with respect to the second sliding surface ( 15 ), and with a second communication opening ( 20 ) extending between said second sliding surface ( 15 ) and said retention surface ( 19 );
 said first pulling element ( 16 ) being provided with:
 a widened head ( 21 ), which is placed adjacent to said retention surface ( 19 ) and has dimensions, on a plane transverse to said movement direction (Z), greater than those of said second communication opening ( 20 ); 
 a stem ( 22 ), which extends starting from said widened head ( 21 ), is mechanically connected to said first actuation piston ( 7 ) and is placed to traverse the second communication opening ( 20 ) of said second connection body ( 5 ); 
   with said first actuation piston ( 7 ) in said first actuation position, said widened head ( 21 ) being pulled towards said first connection body ( 3 ) by said stem ( 22 ) mechanically connected to said first actuation piston ( 7 ), to push under pressure, by acting on said retention surface ( 19 ), said second connection body ( 5 ) with its second sliding surface ( 15 ) towards the first sliding surface ( 14 ) of said first connection body ( 3 ).   
     
     
         7 . Clamping device ( 1 ) according to  claim 6 , wherein said first connection body ( 3 ) is provided with a first communication opening ( 17 ) extending between said first guide chamber ( 8 ) and said first sliding surface ( 14 );
 said first pulling element ( 16 ) being placed to traverse, with play, the first communication opening ( 17 ) of said first connection body ( 3 );   the stem ( 22 ) of said first pulling element ( 16 ) being placed to traverse substantially fittingly the second communication opening ( 20 ) of said second connection body ( 5 ) so that said first pulling element ( 16 ) is integrally joined with said second connection body ( 5 ) in translation on said reference plane (X).   
     
     
         8 . Clamping device ( 1 ) according to  claim 7 , wherein said first pulling element ( 16 ) is provided with a base portion ( 28 ) and said stem ( 22 ) extends between said base portion ( 28 ) and said widened head ( 21 );
 said first actuation piston ( 7 ) being provided with a first containment seat ( 29 ), which houses the base portion ( 28 ) of said first pulling element ( 16 ) in a sliding manner on a plane parallel to said reference plane (X).   
     
     
         9 . Clamping device ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein said second clamping assembly ( 4 ) comprises a third connection body ( 23 ) rotatably connected to said second connection body ( 5 ) around at least one rotation axis so that said third connection body ( 23 ) is tiltable with respect to said second connection body ( 5 ) between a plurality of second adjustment positions. 
     
     
         10 . Clamping device ( 1 ) according to  claim 6 , wherein said second clamping assembly ( 4 ) comprises a third connection body ( 23 ) rotatably connected to said second connection body ( 5 ) around at least one rotation axis so that said third connection body ( 23 ) is tiltable with respect to said second connection body ( 5 ) between a plurality of second adjustment positions;
 said third connection body ( 23 ) being provided with a third sliding surface ( 24 ) and said second connection body ( 5 ) is provided with a fourth sliding surface ( 25 ), and such third and fourth sliding surface ( 24 ,  25 ) are arranged in contact with each other and are one concave and the other convex to allow said third connection body ( 23 ) to tilt with respect to said second connection body ( 5 ) around at least one rotation axis;   said third connection body ( 23 ) being provided with a second containment seat ( 26 ) opening on said third sliding surface ( 24 ) towards said second connection body ( 5 ) with a third communication opening ( 27 ) having dimensions smaller with respect to those of the widened head ( 21 ) of said first pulling element ( 16 ), on a plane transverse to said movement direction (Z);   the widened head ( 21 ) of said first pulling element ( 16 ) being housed in said second containment seat ( 26 ), the stem ( 22 ) of said first pulling element ( 16 ) being placed to traverse said third communication opening ( 27 ) and said fourth sliding surface ( 25 ) being at least in part coincident with said retention surface ( 19 );   with said first actuation piston ( 7 ) in said first actuation position, said widened head ( 21 ) being pulled towards said first connection body ( 23 ) by said stem ( 22 ) in order to push:
 said third connection body ( 23 ) towards said second connection body ( 5 ) so that said third sliding surface ( 24 ) is pushed in abutment under pressure against said fourth sliding surface ( 25 ), locking said third connection body ( 23 ) and said second connection body ( 5 ) in one said second adjustment position; and 
 said second connection body ( 5 ) towards said first connection body ( 3 ) so that said second sliding surface ( 15 ) is pushed under pressure towards said first sliding surface ( 14 ), locking said second connection body ( 5 ) and said first connection body ( 3 ) in one said first adjustment position.